Guns 101

OK, so what are those “mechanical attachments” that are part of a gun? Well, let’s break it down into some basic pieces:

Gun Components

In 99.9% of all cases, all guns include the following parts: muzzle, breach, hammer and trigger. These components often determine how a firearm operates and how it is classified.

Muzzle: The Business End of a Gun

Muzzle = Front. Or, more specifically, the muzzle is the opening on the front of a firearm. This is where the projectile comes out of. Click on the examples below for more detail.

The Breech

Simply, the breech is the back. With early firearms, the technology limited how guns were loaded. For centuries, guns could only be loaded through the muzzle and they were known as “muzzle-loading” guns. Later, as technology improved, guns could be loaded through the breach and were referred to as “breech-loading”. Click below to see some examples of gun breeches:

The Hammer

The hammer is the part of the firearm that makes contact with the bullet primer to ignite the powder and propel the bullet out of the muzzle (read more about bullet cartridges). For most handguns and some rifles, the hammer is visible on the outside of the firearm. However, for most rifles and shotguns and some pistols, the hammer is internal.

With some guns, the hammer doesn’t even contact the primer directly at all. In those cases, a firing pin is used. The firing pin is struck by the hammer driving it forward into the bullet’s primer to fire the round.

The Trigger

The trigger is the part of a firearm that files the round. On certain guns, like single action revolvers, the hammer has to be “cocked” – or pulled back into position – before the trigger can be pulled. In those cases, the pull of the trigger releases the hammer to fire the round. With most other guns, the trigger pull is considered double action in that pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and releases it thereby firing the gun..

I realize this is suppose to be informative information & not swaying in either direction, (pro-gun or anti-gun) but as a responsible gun owner that grew up knowledgeable of firearms & reloading I disagree with the use of the word weapon. A weapon consists of any device used to willingly inflict damage. A firearm is nothing more then a tool, as good or as bad as the individual using it.

Nor is this comment pro or anti gun, but what would one use said gun for? As a tool tool to protect one’s life/loved ones? And as protecting yourself or others from an intruder, you could likely inflict damage. Willingly. Not that such a circumstance is bad, if you have to harm one to protect your family that is fine, but a firearm IS weapon. As it is also a tool, but it’s also a weapon. A kitchen knife is a tool, but it is also a weapon. I mean no disrespect to you, I am sure you are a very responsible gun owner, but it is a dangerous weapon, and that is why it must be treated with care and respect.

Food on the table. Remember hunting? I know grocery stores have spoiled everyone, but hunting with a firearm used to be what it was mostly used for. A car is a weapon, a hammer is a weapon if utilizing your logic. Even a rice cooker. My firearms have never been used for anthing but hunting and practice.

I know it’s a tool and I agree with you 100% and the only thing I can think of and what others must think is that when you shoot a gun whatever it’s aimed at is going to be damaged. thats what the tool was made for in the first place. As a tool not for every tom dick and hairy to own because ppl are stupid. Just read some comments for 10 mins and I’m sure 100% of you will agree. It’s just that guns and everywhere and your not going to get them out of the wrong ppls hands. The best you can do for the safety if everyone is to educate everyone everything there is to know about guns. They teach these kids nothing in schools. It’s so fucking sad to see these ppl out in the world that only know how to do the job they have been doing for 30 fucking years. learn how to do everything so you can rely on your own knowledge cause everyone has a gun but here is the problem. Everyone needs to hide it or its looked at like a wild animal. It’s a tool the needs to be out in the open used as a tool talked about like a spoon or fork or knife. We talk about guns like they are bad to even hold one. Wtf is wrong with everyone. They brain wash you to believe these things without you even knowing they replace your own thoughts with there mind set. Some ppl have figured this out and the only way anything is going to change will be to drain the swamp and get rid of all these ppl who fucking jumped over the boarders and fucked up this once was a great place to live and carry out your dreams. Now the USA is the number one reality show in every other part of the world. it’s amazing what ppl think are real life problems. Amazing I didn’t know ppl were this dumb. What do they teach kids in schools. Really someone tell me cause after 5th grade I was like a robot just doing the same thing everyday so I already know my education was bs how about yours?

Anyone who has been in the military knows that the trainee is required to refer to his “gun” as a weapon and nothing else. For some like myself that terminology stays for life. Call is what you are comfortable with and understand others and the words they us.

Hi, not trying to start a fight but the word “weapon” should not be used in a negative connotation. A weapon is anything that is designed to inflict physical damage(which is what a gun is), not necessarily willingly nor nefariously. You shouldn’t feel blue when people call guns weapons 🙂 and plus it sounds cool 🙂

I like how simplified the descriptions are here. It explains the very basics without being complicated or anything.
However I would like to make a minor correction.
*The ‘breech’ of a gun is the base (back) of the barrel. Not the back of the whole gun. It is the opening behind the chamber for the cartridge is located. For simplicity sake; the breech is behind where the bullet sits when ready to fire. The barrel is usually thicker here to withstand the high pressures when the shot is fired.
An easy way to remember this is that breech means opening. Almost every modern style of gun is technically a breech loaded weapon; as there is a hole in the back of the barrel where the bullets goes in.
(In muzzle loaded guns, the breech is a solid piece of metal that holds the back of the barrel closed.)
Other than that, the simplicity of the above is spot on and well explained. Great work.

If you guys do a ‘GUNS 101 part 2’ or even ‘GUNS 101 part 3’ you should go over things like:
*Lock
*Stock
*Barrel
(yes I did that in order on purpose. lol)
*Bolt
*Chamber
*Magazine
*Clip
*Action
*Recoil

Very good idea. Ran into a fellow at the gun shop who truly had no idea about firearms but was coincide ring buying a gun. Told him about some classes that would be good to start with prior to purchase

I have a friends Revelation 350A, which is primarily a western model 350A aka stevens model 94 (western auto bought abs sold under a downy name) crap gun but sentalmentle to him that has a firing pin pressure problem I believe. It will shoot about half of the time, the half that it don’t fire will leave a really small indent from the pin any better ideas that inserting a handmade c clip into the hammer spring to give it more pressure?

It should include a complete composition of all of the parts of the gun, and include the different kinds of ammunition, and the composition of multiple kinds of guns, like shotguns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, and fully automatic machine guns

Hi Ryan. Thank you for your comment. This page is intended to be a very basic starting guide for how a gun works and it’s most basic components. We are compiling a catalog of information on various types of fierarms and ammunition that we hope to add to the website very soon.

Im a petite female (5.1ft & 100 lbs soaking wet). Im also a farmer and this year we decided to get deer permits for crop damage. My husband has a .243 that he uses to shoot at the deer but due to the bang I cant be anywhere near when its fired. I not only have extremely sensitive ears but I have a issue with getting scared or startled easily. I would like to be able to shoot but all I have is a .22 which is not appropriate for my goal. Is there something out there powerful enough to kill a deer but yet quiet enough it wouldnt bother me? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Welcome to the club, Kerri! I also don’t like unexpected loud noises, and guns also made me nervous. I personally have invested in a compound bow, which I absolutely love. That may not be practical for your specific situation, and if it isn’t, then you may want to investigate into an air gun that is powerful to shoot a deer. Another option is a .22 Magnum.
Something else you may want to look at is an Air gun. Air guns are very quiet, and there are multiple people who have killed animals bigger than deer with them. For example, TV personality Eva Shockey killed a huge wild boar in Texas with one shot from a .25-caliber Benjamin Marauder air rifle.
I’m also no big expert on guns by a long shot, but those are a few suggestions 🙂

Hi Jim. +P just means that the load generates pressure exceeding the SAAMI specified maximum for that round. That means that it’s a “hotter” load than the standard .38 Special meaning increased velocity and stopping power. It is not recommended to use +P rounds in older firearms as they are not built to withstand that extra pressure. But, newer models (last 25 years or so) can handle the +P rounds. Consult your gun manufacturer’s recommendations, though, before using it.

On any ammo classified +p all that means is that the pressure inside the cartridge is more than normal and bullet velocity is greater. Some firearms should not use +p ammo. But most modern firearms can. Check your owners manual.

What type of gun would be good for a woman? I have zero to no experience except firing a .9 mm at the range that has too much kick for me. Im looking for a full size gun AND one for conceal carry. Im taking a gun safety course and cc class soon.

Hi Therese. Someone I know just recently spoke to a female police officer about this very subject. She and many other woman I’ve spoken to often recommend a .380 caliber or what is also often referred to as a “short nine”. The .380 round is the same diameter as a 9mm but is shorter and has less powder and therefore less recoil. It is one of the most common concealed carry pistols available today. There are many different makes and models such as Beretta’s Pico (http://www.beretta.com/en-us/pico/). I’d start there and see if you can rent one at a local gun range to get a feel for it yourself.

Don’t be fooled by the idea that a woman has to use a smaller caliber gun. Although there is less powder in a .380 than a 9mm the .380 pistol is often much smaller and lighter than its 9mm counterparts. This results in snappier recoil in many cases. the best thing to do is go to a range that rents guns and try them out. Every body is different and as they say “your mileage may vary”.

First of all I want to say thank you for this website. It’s been pretty helpful in gaining more knowledge on guns & ammo! My question is, I’m looking to buy a gun for concealed use. I would prefer a revolver (I’ve tried 9mm SA a few times and didn’t care for them), but I’m not sure which would be better for me. A few guns I had in mind include the S&W bodyguard 38, .38 Special S&W or .357 S&W. I’m still new to guns (I did take a safety course, I’m just don’t know that much about the guns themself) so I’m not sure which would be better. I do understand that a .357 can use .38 and .357 ammo, but is also more powerful than a .38. Any suggestions?

nothing wrong with a revolver i would go with 357 because one is the ammo you might find different stuff on sale next you wont see much difference in recoil and really a revolver in my opinion is more dependable just not enough ammo for me, anything is better than nothing

Hi Jim. A Picatinny rail is a system integrated into a firearm to allow for easily adding and removing attachments like a site, or laser or flashlght, etc. Picatinny rails are either integrated into the firearm by the manufacturer or can be added to some firearms as a modification.

ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. It’s used most commonly to describe the .45 and .380 calibers used in semi-automatic handguns. The .45 ACP was invented by John Browning when he first developed the 1911 pistol as a replacement for the standard issue .38 caliber revolver carried by U.S. servicemen. Up until then, most handguns were revolvers but the 1911 was semi-auto. I believe that it was given the designation ACP to separate it from other .45 caliber rounds that were often used in rifles prior to the introduction of the 1911 pistol.